A couple of weeks ago we were at the beach for my in-laws’ family beach trip. I was trying to help my 4 year old on the resort’s wooden playset when the ladder area collapsed. My leg was ripped open (pretty!) in 2 places by some rusty screws that had (not) held the playset together.
I ended up in the ER getting stitches and was told I couldn’t go in the pools or the ocean for the rest of the trip. Not good news for a mom of three small kids on a beach vacation!
We returned home at the end of the week and after 14 days the stitches were ready to come out . I waited for a good time to take all of the kids to a local clinic to have the stitches removed. And waited. And waited. And there never was a good time. There was laundry to wash from the vacation, school supplies to buy for my older daughter’s school, uniforms to wash and mend, beach supplies to put away, groceries to buy, etc..
So I decided to do it myself. No problem, right? There are dozens of websites that show you how to remove your own stitches, even some videos on YouTube showing people easily snipping the stitches on their arms and knees and slipping the threads right out. So easy!
As one might imagine, reaching your knee is easier than reaching your lower leg. Especially the outside of the lower leg. Even more so when it’s the outside of the lower leg that’s opposite your dominant hand. Even bending over to touch my toes (not something I do often if I can help it) didn’t get me close enough to really see what I was doing when I reached across both legs with my right hand.
Did I let that stop me? Of course not. Yay me! Go Mickey!
I grabbed some tiny scissors and started snipping. In retrospect, I might have paid more attention to which knots went with other knots. I might also have looked up the difference between mattress stitches and simple stitches, so I knew which way to pull. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that….
Anyway, I removed my stitches. I think. At least most of them.
Please call me Dr. Mickey from this point on. 🙂
p.s. I have some seriously NASTY photos that I’m dying to post, but will restrain myself in case some of you have weak stomachs.
p.p.s. If you hear that I’m in a coma from some horrible blood disease related to suture mistreatment resulting in infection, please point the real doctors towards my lower left leg….
Sarah says
That is hilarious and really scary all mixed together. It made me a little light headed thinking about it, but I really want to see pictures! lol.
Deon says
Wow, Dr. Mickey, that`s so brave of you! I couldn’t do that. No way. Like Sarah said, it make me a bit lightheaded to read that. You’re my hero!
Hey, guess what? I’ve awarded you the Butterfly Award for your blog! http://chasing-chickens.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-award.html Congrats to you!!!